AUCTION 

BRIDGE 




Class .yh'^-liSl 

Book ^7 

Copyright }i" 

COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



THE ABC 

OF 

AUCTION BRIDGE 



INCLUDING 



"NEW COUNT" 



BY 

G/ EDWARD ATHERTON 

M 
OF THE 

Philadelphia Racquet Club 



Philadelphia : 

DAVID McKAY, Publisher 

604-608 South Washington Square 



G,^ 






\m 



Copyright, 1912, by David McKay 



Copyright, 1913, by David McKay 



©CI.A346386 



CONTENTS 



PAGE 

Introduction 3 

* ' New Count " 7 

How to Score at Auction 9 

The Laws 12 

The Revoke 14 

The Declarations 15 

Doubling 37 

The Dealer 46 

The Two Spade Bid 5° 

Third Hand 58 

Second Hand 66 

Fourth Hand 73 

Summary of the Bidding 75 

Scoring 76 

The Penalty for Common Offenses 79 



INTRODUCTION 



The popularity of Auction Bridge 
promises to be as rapid and as com- 
plete as was that of the parent game 
— Bridge proper Just as the supe- 
rior attractions of the latter over 
the sober interests of Whist were at 
once recognized, so are the greater 
possibilities of the new variant claim- 
ing adherents among those who prefer 
excitement to science in their recrea- 
tions. And it must be admitted, 
although as a confirmed Bridge en- 



4 A B C of Auction Bridge 

thusiast I grieve to have to concede 
the point, Auction offers far greater 
scope for individual enterprise than 
its older rival, and for a time at least 
its fascination promises to be irresist- 
ible. 

For one thing, it appeals to the 
gambling instinct. It is a clever 
combination of Bridge, Solo Whist, 
and Poker, and calls for the qualities 
which make for success in all three 
games. The stereotyped Bridge- 
player would be at as great a disad- 
vantage without a thorough knowl- 
edge of the intricacies of Auction as 
would a Poker player who did not 
know Bridge. Given each an equal 



A B C of Auction Bridge 5 

proficiency, and the player with the 
Poker temperament will have the 
upper hand. 

I shall, however, for the sake of 
brevity, take it for granted that read- 
ers of this Httle volume are acquainted 
with the laws and play of ordinary 
Bridge Those who are not can gain 
the requisite information from any of 
the hundred and one excellent Bridge 
manuals. But does there exist a card- 
player in this year of grace who does 
not imderstand Bridge? If so, he 
must be in too small a minority to 
deserve special consideration. We 
will, therefore, start with the assump- 
tion that we are all sufficiently stu- 



6 A B C of Auction Bridge 

dents of Bridge to be able to appreci- 
ate the distinctions between the two 
games. 

And here let it be said that the 
confirmed Bridge-player will have as 
much to unlearn as to learn in 
acquiring the principles of Auction 
Bridge. For instance, what can be 
more difficult to grasp than the fact 
that the calling of "No Trumps'' 
entails no greater risk than a spade 
declaration? Again, that calling to 
the score loses its significance, as 
the opposition cannot win the game 
on a defeated call, or that, as a rule, 
it is more profitable to defeat an 
opponent's call than to win the game? 



A B C of Auction Bridge 7 

The whole point of view is changed, 
and the more ingrained are the funda- 
mental principles of ordinary Bridge, 
the greater will be the confusion of 
the player until he shall become im- 
bued with the reckless optimism es- 
sential to Auction Bridge, but fatal to 
its predecessor. 

''NEW COUNT'' 

When "Auction" first began to 
take the place of ''Bridge" in popu- 
larity, the same count as to the valu- 
ation of the different suits was used, 
namely: Spades, 2; Clubs, 4; Dia- 
monds, 6; Hearts, 8, and No Trumps, 
12. But as Auction became more 



8 A B C of Auction Bridge 

and more played it was realized that 
the competition in the bidding with 
the above valuation for the different 
suits would not do, and finally, after 
many experiments, the following count 
— namely: Spades, 2; Clubs, 6; Dia- 
monds, 7; Hearts, 8; Lilies or Royal 
Spades, 9, and No Trumps, 10 — was 
adopted by the players of the Phila- 
delphia Racquet Club in the fall of 
191 1, and this coimt is now being 
used by all the leading players and 
clubs in this country and abroad. 

Under this system of counting it 
can be seen that each suit declaration 
has now an aggressive value and is 
capable of making game. This, of 



A 3 C of Auction Bridge 9 

course, was not true under the old 
count as used in Bridge proper, where 
the Club bid could only be used to 
give indication of strength in that suit 
in the event of his partner wishing 
to make it No Trump. 

HOW TO SCORE AT AUCTION 

Since the changing of value of the 
tricks by the "New Count" there has 
been some confusion among beginners 
as to value of the honors, also what 
points should be scored in the trick 
and honor column For these play- 
ers I have added the following table, 
"How to Score at Auction Bridge," 
giving in a condensed form what 



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Little Slam, 20; Grand Slam, 40; Rubber, 250. If doubled, 50 points if 
contract is fulfilled and 50 points for each trick taken over contract. If 
redoubled, 100 points if contract is fulfilled and 100 for each trick taken 
over contract. If contract is not fulfilled, opponents score 50 for each trick 
under contract ; if doubled, 100 points : if redoubled, 200 points. 
^ 7467 Revoke, see page 14. 


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Four Honoi-s .... 
Five Honors .... 
Four Honors in one hand 
Five Honors (one in Part- 
ner's hand) 

Five Honors in one hand 
Chicane 


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A B C of Auction Bridge 







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12 A B C of Auction Bridge 

points should be scored in the trick 
column and what points should be 
scored in the honor column. This 
differs from the old system of scoring 
above and below the line See p. 7 7 . 

THE LAWS 

I shall first set forward, as briefly as 
possible, the laws of the game, always, 
of course, taking for granted that my 
readers are Bridge-players. The game 
and the rubber are the same in both 
cases — thirty points in the trick col- 
umn, and the best of three games con- 
stitutes the rubber. Honors, chicane, 
and grand and little slam are scored 
in the honor column and are counted 



A B C of Auction Bridge 13 

just as in ordinary Bridge. The dif- 
ference lies in the scoring of tricks 
made against the declarer. These are 
invariably scored in the honor column 
and are coimted at the end of the 
rubber They have no bearing upon 
the game. Only the tricks won by 
the declarer are scored in the trick 
column. Every trick below the num- 
ber the declarer has contracted to 
make counts 50 points to the opposi- 
tion, no matter in what suit or call it 
may be. Thus the failure to make 
one odd trick in spades is as expensive 
as in clubs, diamonds, hearts, or No 
Tnrnips. The penalty is uniform. 
To the score of the side winning the 



14 A B C of Auction Bridge 

rubber is added 250 points in the 
honor column. The laws as to shuf- 
fling, cutting, and dealing are the same ; 
also those applying to exposed cards 
and cards liable to be called as played 
in error. 

THE REVOKE 

There are differences, however, in 
the penalty for a revoke. When a 
revoke against the declarer is claimed, 
his adversaries score 150 points in 
the honor column in addition to the 
amount of the imdertricks by which 
the declarer has failed to carry out 
his contract. In the case of the ad- 
versaries revoking, the declarer may 



A B C of Auction Bridge 15 

add 150 points in the honor column, or 
he may add three tricks to those he 
has taken, if, for instance, he should 
need them to complete his contract. 
In neither case is the penalty increased 
by a double or redouble, nor is the 
bonus for a double or redouble (see 
later) to be taken. 

When more than one revoke is 
made during the play of the hand, 
the penalty for each revoke after the 
first is 100 points in the honor column. 
The revoking side cannot score ex- 
cept for honors in trumps or chicane. 

THE DECLARATIONS 

Before coming to the all-important 



1 6 A B C of Auction Bridge 

question of the declaration, wherein 
lies the whole art of Auction as dis- 
tinguished from ordinary Bridge, it 
may be as well to set forth the pro- 
gressive calls as they take precedence 
over each other. When two contracts 
are of equal point value, the under- 
taking to make the greater number of 
tricks ranks the higher To avoid 
any confusion, it may be mentioned 
here that the contract to make one 
trick in any suit means the odd trick; 
two tricks in a suit, eight tricks, and 
so on. 

Eliminating the spade bid as being 
purely defensive, the following list of 
progressive calls may be found useful: 



A B C of Auction Bridge 



17 



CLUBS 



2 Clubs =12 beat i Diamond 


= 7- 


2 * 


* = 12 ' 


' I Heart 


= 8. 


2 * 


* = 12 * 


* I Lily 


= 9- 


2 * 


' = 12 * 


' I No Trump 


= 10. 


3 ' 


= 18 ' 


' 2 Diamonds 


= 14. 


3 * 


= 18 * 


' 2 Hearts 


= 16. 


3 * 


= 18 * 


* 2 Lilies 


= 18. 


4 * 


= 18 * 


' 3 Diamonds 


= 21. 


4 * 


= 18 ' 


* 3 Hearts 


= 24. 


4 * 


= 18 ' 


' 2 No Trumps 


= 20. 


S * 


= 30 * 


* 3 Lilies 


= 27. 


5 * 


= 30 ' 


* 3 No Trumps 


= 30. 


6 * 


= 36 ' 


' 5 Diamonds 


= 35- 


6 * 


= 36 * 


* 4 Hearts 


= 32. 


6 * 


= 36 ' 


' 4 Lilies 


= 36. 


7 * 


' = 42 * 


* 6 Diamonds 


= 42. 


7 ' 


* = 42 * 


' 5 Hearts 


= 40. 


7 ' 


* = 42 ' 
DIAIV^ 


* 4 No Trumps 
[ONDS 


= 40. 


2Dia 


imonds = 14 be 


at I Heart 


= 8. 



14 ' 


' I Lily 


14 ' 


' I No Trump 



i8 



A B C of Auction Bridge 



3 Diamonds = 21 


beat 2 Hearts =16. 


3 


* =21 


" 2 Lilies =18. 


3 


* = 21 


" 2 No Trumps = 20. 


4 * 


= 28 


" 3 Hearts = 24. 


4 


= 28 


" 3 Lilies =27. 


5 


= 35 


" 4 Hearts = 2>2. 


5 


= 35 


" 3 No Trumps = 30. 


6 


= 42 


" 4 Lilies = 36. 


6 


= 42 


" 5 Hearts = 40. 


6 


* = 42 


" 4 No Trumps = 40. 


7 


= 49 


" 5 Lilies = 49. 


7 


= 49 


" 6 Hearts = 48. 



2 Hearts =16 


2 * 


= 16 


3 * 


= 24 


3 * 


= 24 


4 * 


= 32 


4 ' 


= 32 


5 * 


= 40 


5 ' 


' = 40 


6 * 


= 48 


7 ' 


= 56 


7 * 


= 56 



HEARTS 

16 beat I Lily = 9. 

1 No Trump = i^ 

2 Lilies = I 

2 No Trumps = 2 

3 Lilies =27 

3 No Trumps = 30. 

4 Lilies = 36, 

4 No Trumps = 40. 

5 Lilies = 45 

6 Lilies = 54. 
5 No Trumps = 50, 



A B C of Auction Bridge 19 

LILIES OR ROYALS 



2 Lilies 


"= 18 beat I No Trump = 10. 


3 " 


= 27 " 2 No Trumps = 20. 


4 " 


= 36 " 3 No Trumps = 30. 


5 " 


= 45 " 4 No Trumps = 40. 


6 " 


= 54 " 5 No Trumps = 50. 


7 " 


= 63 " 6 No Trumps = 60. 



The deal in Auction does not 
carry with it the advantage of the 
deal at Bridge. The dealer has to 
make a compulsory call; he can- 
not leave the obligation to his partner. 
Neither is the play of the two hands 
assured to him as in ordinary Bridge. 
Either of his adversaries or his part- 
ner may become the declarer by call- 
ing above him. It is true that he has 
the right of the final call after every- 



20 A B C of Auction Bridge 

one else has been satisfied, but, as we 
shall see, the odds against his being 
able to avail himself of this privilege 
are such as to render it only an oc- 
casional benefit. 

Having to start the running, how- 
ever, his policy, for reasons given 
later, should be aggressive, if possible. 
Where the hands are about evenly 
divided in strength, the advantage to 
the ■ side playing the hand is about 
one trick. Therefore it is permissible 
to make a No Trump considerably 
lighter than would be safe at Bridge. 
Faihng the nucleus of a No Trump, 
the dealer should name his strong 
suit^ — if it has the higher honors. By 



A B C of Auction Bridge 21 

bidding a suit of this nature his 
partner knows what he can count 
on, if he has a fair hand himself, 
and it frequently happens that third 
hand has a good No Trump make 
if he knows that his weak suit is pro- 
tected in his partner's hand. More- 
over, if the dealer's named suit is 
especially strong, he can overbid his 
partner's No Trump at slight cost, 
if it should seem advisable. 

Without a possible No Trump, or 
a really strong suit, the dealer should 
call "One Spade." This does not 
necessarily correspond to the yar- 
borough original make at Bridge. 
It merely says to the partner, "I 



22 A B C of Auction Bridge 

cannot make it No Trump, and 
have no especially strong suit — my 
strength, if any, is scattered." So, 
with "One Spade" from dealer, 
second player can overcall or pass. 
If third player calls "Two Spades," 
"One Club" is the lowest con- 
tract that takes precedence over it. A 
double reopens the bidding (see later). 
For instance, if, say, a call of "Two 
Hearts" has been doubled, the de- 
clarer of that contract can amend 
it to "Two Lilies" or "Two No 
Trumps," and so on. And this he 
can do, if expedient, without any fear 
of increasing the penalty for failure, 
for the loss is the same in both in- 



A B C of Auction Bridge 23 

stances — 50 points for every trick 
under the contract and scored in the 
honor column. Failure does not 
affect the game, and therefore he may 
take wider liberties in this direction 
than at ordinary Bridge. We will 
give an illustration. 

Let us suppose that one of the 
players has been forced to call "Two 
Hearts" on doubtful strength. The 
declaration is doubled and he stands 
to lose 100 points for every trick 
below the number he has undertaken 
to make. Whereas if he raises his 
call to "Two No Trumps/' and it is 
not doubled, he at least halves his 
loss per trick, 



24 A B C of Auction Bridge 

Occasionally ''One Spade'' is a 
useful call when dealer has a certain 
No Trump hand, with strength in all 
four suits. If ''One No Trump" or 
"Two Hearts" has been called over 
him, he is in a safe position to call 
"Two No Trumps," and in the very 
improbable case of being doubled, can 
then redouble, by this means perhaps 
forcing the opposition to call beyond 
their strength, as explained above, 
when the dealer in turn can double 
with every chance of defeating the 
declaration. For it must be under- 
stood that the winning of the game 
is not the only object of Auction 
Bridge. The heavy scoring is done 



A B C of Auction Bridge 25 

in the honor column by defeating one's 
adversaries. 

With moderate strength in three or 
more suits, however, an initial call of 
"One No Trump" can be recom- 
mended. The dealer is not likely to 
be left to make it or to be doubled, 
and so he at once forces up the 
bidding to "Two Clubs" at least, 
and gives his partner some idea of 
the kind of hand he holds. Thus, 
if the latter has strength in one of 
the red suits or "Lilies," he can con- 
tract to make two in it, so going a step 
higher. 

The dealer should never make an 
initial suit or declaration without 



26 A B C of Auction Bridge 

pronounced strength in it and the 
possession of the head cards. Aces 
and Kings are of far greater import- 
ance than in ordinary Bridge. At 
all times the dealer should be careful 
not to deceive his partner. If he 
possesses, however, overwhelming 
strength in one of the suits and noth- 
ing else, it will be better for him to 
commence with a call of two tricks in 
it. It can do no harm and will be 
at least a guide to third player. 

From these remarks it will be seen 
that far more strategy goes to the 
making of an original declaration in 
Auction than in ordinary Bridge. 
The dealer does not necessarily set 



ABC of Auction Bridge 27 

out to secure the play of the two 
hands or to win the game. Failure 
may be so much more expensive 
than the advantage of fulfilling a 
contract that his policy is rather to 
foster the sporting instincts of his 
adversaries than to take risks him- 
self. "Bluff" enters considerably in- 
to the essence of the game, but it 
may prove expensive when carried 
too far with players who can draw 
sound deductions. On the other 
hand, it is often advisable to incur 
certain small losses in the honor 
column in order to keep the game 
open, with the hope of retrieving it in 
subsequent deals. The loss of the 



28 A B C of Auction Bridge 

dealer's advantage makes this possi- 
ble at any time. 

Let us now proceed from the 
original call of "One Spade/' In 
some cases second player may pass 
this, for the reason that if third player 
does not increase it, he makes a con- 
fession of weakness, and, fourth 
player also passing, the dealer is left 
to get the odd trick in spades with no 
chance of materially augmenting his 
score, and with a corresponding chance 
of losing up to ICO points for failing 
in his contract. 

Suppose, however, that the dealer 
has made "One No Trump." 

Now second hand is in some diffi- 



A B C of Auction Bridge 29 

culty. He has gained no certain 
knowledge regarding the nature of 
dealer's cards and none whatever 
about his partner's. If he makes a 
rash call, he may be promptly 
doubled, and then he or his partner 
may be constrained to declare higher 
in order to get out of a dangerous 
situation. If, however, he possesses 
good strength in one of the suits and 
high cards in the other suits, what, 
in fact, would be otherwise a moder- 
ate No Trumper, then a two-card 
call in it is advisable. Although, if 
he bids two of a suit and is short of a 
suit of higher declaration, for exam- 
ple, he bids ''Two Clubs" or "Dia- 



30 A B C of Auction Bridge 

monds" and is short of "Hearts'^ or 
"Lilies," he reopens the bidding for 
the dealer's partner or the dealer. 
This may result in game, whereas, if 
he lets the one "No Trump" stand, 
with his strength he would probably 
save the game and might defeat the 
declaration The bidding will have 
reached an interesting stage. 

Failing such strength, second hand 
should leave things to his partner, 
who, possessing unusual strength, 
may prefer to leave the dealer in 
with a "One No Trump" call on the 
tolerable certainty of being ^ble to 
beat it. To double this call would 
be a tactical error, as one of the other 



A B C of Auction Bridge 31 

side would probably take refuge in 
two of a suit. If this is the object of 
the opposition, then the first double 
would be justified The whole strat- 
egy of the game is to entice the other 
side into a risky declaration and then 
to defeat it. The higher the stage 
reached, the greater becomes the 
value of top cards in any of the suits. 
Say, for instance, one of the players 
has been driven to "Three Hearts." 
He has undertaken to make nine 
tricks. The adversaries have only to 
secure five and the declaration fails. 
In supporting a partner's call, it is 
essential to grasp his motive for 
making it. Is it a voluntary one 



32 A B C of Auction Bridge 

from strength or a compulsory one 
to evade a tight comer? Let me 
give an illustration: "One Spade" 
has come from dealer. Second 
hand declares "One Heart." His 
only reason for doing so can be 
genuine strength in hearts. Hence if 
third hand tops it with "One No 
Trump," fourth hand, holding, say, 
one trick in hearts and two other 
tricks, or good general strength, may 
with safety say "Two Hearts." 

On the other hand, an illustration 
of a forced call would be as follows: 
Third hand has raised dealer's orig- 
inal call of "One Spade" to "Two 
Spades." Fourth hand is unwise 



A B C of Auction Bridge 33 

enough to double it. Dealer must 
get out of the declaration somehow. 
He contracts to make one trick in a 
more expensive suit. His partner 
must not take this to mean that he 
has made a sound call. The dealer 
may be only seeking a way of escape. 
Deductions of this kind have a most 
important bearing upon the game. 
The adversaries, too, should draw 
the same distinctions. For example, 
dealer has been driven to call "One 
Heart." Second hand, having strong 
cards, with good trumps, may venture 
on "Two Hearts." If he has made 
a mistake and it is doubled, he can 
take refuge in "Two No Trumps." 



34 A B C of Auction Bridge 

Or, if confident of his own ability to 
fulfil his undertaking, he can redouble. 
Should, however, the dealer's call have 
been a weak one, the latter's only 
refuge is "Two No Trumps," with 
the risk of being doubled. 

Information afforded by the differ- 
ent declarations is most valuable and 
should be treasured up. It is as es- 
sential to note what has not been 
called as what has been called. And 
it is in this connection that the im- 
portance of following the score comes 
in. For instance, if your opponents, 
with their score at i6 or i8 in the 
rubber game, passed your partner's 
"One No Trump" declaration, the 



A B C of Auction Bridge 35 

inference would be that they were 
weak in one of the other suits that 
would take them out with a two-trick 
call. One of them would certainly 
have overcalled if he saw any chance 
of victory. Again, suppose that the 
bidding had been raised to "Three 
Clubs" by one of the adversaries, 
and, instead of doubling, your partner 
branches into "Two No Trumps," is 
it not safe to infer that "Clubs" is 
his weak spot? The instances may 
be multiplied, and will suggest them- 
selves to the intelligent player. More 
direct information can, of course, be 
drawn from what has been called. 
Say your partner has gone "Two 



36 A B C of Auction Bridge 

Diamonds'^; possessing nothing in 
that suit yourself, but strength in the 
other suits, you are at once encouraged 
to raise the declaration to "Two No 
Trumps." If such a call came from 
the other side, the information would, 
in the same way, suggest caution. 

On the subject of raising your 
partner's call, there is one point to 
be noted. It is the original caller of 
the suit that plays the hand. Thus, 
if your partner should say, "One 
Heart," and is overcalled by "One 
No Trump," if you are able to sup- 
port him by "Two Hearts," which is 
passed, you become dummy, although 
your declaration is higher. 



A B C of Auction Bridge 37 

DOUBLING 

Doubling in Auction differs in 
several respects from ordinary Bridge. 
In both cases only the score is af- 
fected. But in Auction the bidding 
is reopened by a double or redouble, 
and a doubled ^'Two Diamonds" 
would give place to the higher call 
of "Two Hearts." A call can only 
be doubled or redoubled once. A 
player may redouble a double of his 
partner's declaration, but he may not 
double it. If the final declarer's con- 
tract has been doubled, and he shall 
succeed in carrying it out, he is en- 
titled to add a bonus of 50 points to 



38 A B C oj Auction Bridge 

his honor score, and a further 50 
points for every trick he shall make 
above the stipulated number. The 
value of the trick is also doubled 
and redoubled. Again, if the de- 
clarer or his partner redouble their 
opponent's double, they are entitled 
to 100 points in the honor column 
for making their contract and 100 
points for each additional trick. 

When the opposing side have 
doubled and defeated a call they 
score 100 points in the honor column 
for every trick under the number 
which the declarer has undertaken to 
make, i. e., suppose the call has been 
"Two No Trumps doubled" and the 



A B C of Auction Bridge 39 

player only makes five tricks, his ad- 
versaries score 300 points. In the 
case of a redouble they receive 200 
points for every undertrick. But the 
adversaries of a defeated call do not 
score in trick column. 

There is one important exception, 
however, which tends to minimize the 
possible hardship of the dealer having 
to make a compulsory original call on 
a very poor hand The maximum 
amount his adversaries are entitled to 
score in the honor column for defeating 
a doubled one-spade call is 100 points. 
If his partner raises the call to "Two 
Spades," the rule does not apply, but, 
holding no strength himself, third 



40 A B C of Auction Bridge 

player has thus the option of leaving 
the dealer with the initial declaration. 
In spite of what we have said regard- 
ing the obligation of third hand to 
help his partner out of this more or 
less formal opening, it may sometimes 
be expedient to take advantage of 
this refuge for extreme weakness. A 
player must use his own judgment 
when the occasion for exercising 
caution presents itself. 

Doubling plays such an essential 
part in Auction Bridge that I will add 
a few general remarks under this 
heading before passing to the general 
play of the game. For one thing, it is 
the most potent factor in forcing the 



A B C of Auction Bridge 41 

opposing hands to call above their 
capacity. The loss in the honor 
column on a doubled contract when 
defeated is so heavy that most players 
will be tempted to bluff, in order to 
avoid it. As the liability is not in- 
creased by losing in a higher declara- 
tion, this policy is more often than 
not justifiable. Thus a player, having 
called two of a suit and being doubled, 
may find it expedient to rise to '^Two 
No Trumps," especially if he knows 
his partner has strength in one of the 
other suits. If, on the other hand, he 
is doubled, again he is in no worse 
position as regards his losses. 

The loophole afforded by the right 



42 ABC of Auction Bridge 

to call again makes it advisable not to 
double too soon, as it gives your op- 
ponent an opportunity of taking him- 
self out with a higher declaration 
that you cannot defeat. The proper 
course, as I have said before, is to try 
to force the declaration higher by 
calling something else, for ta double 
a one-trick make on trumps alone, 
without outside strength, is an error 
in the majority of cases. 

The more favorable position for 
doubling is when you are on the right 
of the declarer, as, sitting over his 
partner, you deprive the latter of the 
chance of changing his suit. Of 
course, if you wish the suit changed. 



A B C of Auction Bridge 43 

the reverse policy holds good. The 
state of the game must always be a 
consideration in doubling. In addi- 
tion to piling up your score in the 
honor colimm, your object is to keep 
the game open, and so to double 
"Two Hearts," "Two Lilies," or 
"Two No Trumps" at love all in the 
rubber game is not so justifiable as 
when the adversaries' score is well 
advanced. If they just fulfil their 
contract they go out on the doubled 
call, whereas, if left alone, they would 
fall short of the game. If, however, 
the making of the contract will take 
them out any way, the loss is not so 
significant, unless (and this point must 



44 ABC of Auction Bridge 

be borne in mind) you lay yourself 
open to a redouble, in which case your 
position is a very bad one, unless you 
can then take yourself out by making 
a still higher declaration without the 
danger of losing too much if your 
opponents in turn double you. One 
must always bear in mind the fact 
that your opponents are tr3dng to do 
the same thing that you are, namely : 
To make the rubber as large as pos- 
sible by adding to the honor score. 
The higher the call, the better the 
chance of defeating it. 

Finally, it cannot be impressed too 
clearly upon the beginner that a con- 
fident and premature double nearly al- 



A B C of Auction Bridge 45 

ways defeats its object The oppo- 
nents take fright and turn to something 
else. With the certainty of defeating a 
declaration it is better to simply pass 
it and be satisfied with the 50 points 
per undertrick. To double a weak 
call holding invincible strength in it is 
a blunder. Only when the strength 
of a hand would justify a double of a 
higher call in another suit, or in a 
"No Trumper," should it be at- 
tempted. 

I shall now take each of the four 
hands separately, and, for the sake of 
emphasis, elaborate the advice al- 
ready given. 



46 A B C of Auction Bridge 

THE DEALER 

In the early stages of Auction the 
position of the dealer was considered 
a disadvantage. He was forced to 
make some declaration, no matter 
what cards he held. And this situa- 
tion undoubtedly had its drawbacks 
until the establishment of the rule 
hmiting the loss on one spade to loo 
points. 

It has now been generally admitted 
that, on an even score, the bidding is 
a rush for the first "No Trump" 
declaration. As the dealer has the 
first opportunity to gain this advan- 
tage, his position is now accepted as 



A B C of Auction Bridge 47 

the most desirable. The dealer should 
declare one No Trump on a very much 
lighter hand than would warrant that 
declaration at Bridge, for several 
reasons: (i) The adversaries can 
never score toward their game if 
he plays the hand. (2) It costs no 
more to go down in this, the most 
valuable declaration, than in, say, one 
club. (3) It forces a two-trick bid 
from the adversaries He can then 
either pass and try to defeat their 
bid, or, aided by the valuable in- 
formation given by the bid, increase 
his own make. (4) One No Trump 
is seldom doubled — the solid suit 
which must inevitably defeat it must 



48 A B C of Auction Bridge 

be called, which, of course, affords an 
opportunity for escape. If the ad- 
verse suit is black and long, there is 
the strong possibility that the third 
hand will take a weak make out with 
two of a suit, and even if he does not, 
only 50 a trick is lost, because second 
in hand, with a long suit, cannot 
double for fear of warning the maker 
off into a two-suit declaration. (5) 
His partner can always shift the make 
to two of suit if it seems advisable. 

Therefore, the dealer, without the 
nucleus of a No Trump, should de- 
clare one in suit in which he holds, 
say, Ace, King, or King, Queen, and 
others, as an indication to his partner 



A B C of Auction Bridge 49 

that third hand need not fear that 
suit in the play of his own "No 
Trump." Failing a strong suit, how- 
ever — and by this is meant a suit 
holding the higher honors — the dealer 
should make "One Spade." This 
does not correspond exactly to the 
Yarborough make at Bridge — it may 
be made from a hand which holds 
an Ace, King, and other high cards. 
This make merely says to the partner, 
"I cannot make it No Trump myself, 
and my strength, if any, is scattered." 
A suit should never be named on the 
first bid, however, which contains no 
higher honor than the Queen, no 
matter what its length. 



50 A B C of Auction Bridge 

THE TWO SPADE BID 

The "Two Spade" bid by the dealer 
or second hand as an invitation to a 
"No Tnimper" by his respective 
partner is a subject of much discus- 
sion among Auction experts. The 
majority seem to be in favor of one of 
the two following conventions in 
declaring the above: 

1. One certain trick in spades and 
some outside strength, in other words, 
a skeleton "No Trump." 

2. The highest card strength in 
spades, but not enough length to bid 
a "Lily" or "Royal Spade." 

As we have seen, a No Trump 



A B C of Auction Bridge 51 

declaration can be made on a more 
slender foundation than in ordinary 
Bridge, so that if he holds moderate 
cards in three suits, "One No Trump" 
offers Httle risk and is not likely to be 
doubled. It forces the opposition, 
moreover, up to a minimum of ''Two 
Clubs"; and if third hand possesses 
strength in only the suit that is named, 
he may then support the dealer with 
''Two No Trumps." But as he may 
reasonably suppose that the dealer's 
second call was a forced one, he may 
elect to leave the situation to the 
latter. 

The "Two Club" contract comes 
round in turn to the dealer; the in- 



52 A B C of Auction Bridge 

ference now is that his partner has 
no pronounced strength of any kind. 
Let us consider the kind of hand he 
himself is holding: Clubs, Queen, and 
two small ones; hearts, Ace, King, and 
two others; diamonds, Queen, ten, 
and another; spades, King and two 
others. Hands of this kind can be 
multiplied according to the ingenuity 
of the reader, but it may be taken as 
t)^ical of a weak No Trumper. To 
undertake to make two tricks in 
hearts or No Trumps on it is no light 
matter. The dealer should, there- 
fore, be guided by the score. If it is 
"Love all," he should be advised to 
pass, but if the adversaries are ixi a 



A B C of Auction Bridge 53 

position to win the game, and maybe 
the rubber, by fulfilling their contract, 
then a little bluff is permissible. 
"Two No Trimips" should be his 
next call. It will impress the oppo- 
sition and will make them cautious 
about doubhng. The probability is 
that the dealer will be left with the 
call, and may find Httle or no support 
from Dummy, but he will at least have 
kept the game open. 

An "Auction" player should trust 
to his luck to a certain extent, but 
not to the exclusion of his judgment 
or common sense. 

But, holding such a hand as the 
above, a first call of " One No Trump " 



54 A B C of Auction Bridge 

has much to recommend it, as at once 
forcing the adversaries' declaration up 
to a high point before either of them 
has been able to make any disclosures 
to the other. 

Occasionally, having a cast-iron No 
Trumper, you should "lie low,'' and 
use it for forcing the other side into 
a rash undertaking which can be 
doubled. Having a strong trump, 
some sound players advocate begin- 
ning at once with it, on the ground 
that it is a guide to third player. When 
your strength in two suits is equal 
— say you have five of each and noth- 
ing else — it is better to call the lower 
of the two, i. e.j diamonds in prefer- 



A B C of Auction Bridge 55 

ence to hearts. If you are doubled in 
diamonds, you have a way of escape 
through the hearts. 

An original bid of "Three Glubs" 
is sometimes of great value, as it tells 
the partner of declarer he can safely 
go to "Two No Trumps" if he has the 
other suits stopped. That you will 
give him at least five tricks in the suit 
mentioned. This bid should not be 
made without the three top honors 
and five or six of a suit. The above 
bid of three may be used in diamonds, 
although this would force your part- 
ner to "Three No Trumps." 

Do not let the fascination of piling 
up your score in the honor column 



56 A B C of Auction Bridge 

make you altogether blind to the ad- 
vantage of the rubber. It is true that 
there is more to be made by defeating 
your opponents than by fulfilHng your 
own contract. Still, there are many 
occasions when it is more profitable 
to make the rubber than to put your 
adversaries in on the problematical 
chance of their having to present you 
with 50 or 100 points in honors. 
Hence, if you are in an easy position 
to win the rubber, I say go for a moral 
certainty. It is true that you may 
have an equal chance in the next deal, 
but then it is just as likely not to 
present itself, and you may have sac- 
rificed a substantial score in the trick 



A B C of Auction Bridge 57 

column in order to secure a third of 
the amount in honors. On the same 
principle, it is sometimes cheaper to 
let the opposition make the rubber 
on a safe declaration than to hazard a 
hopeless overcall, which is likely to be 
doubled. There are players who 
insist that the game should be kept 
open at any cost, but the theory, cor- 
rect enough up to a certain point, can 
be carried too far. 

A first call of "One No Trump" 
is sometimes expedient with moderate 
strength, but more as a guide to third 
hand and to force up adversaries' dec- 
laration than with any expectation of 
being left to make it. For the same 



58 ABC of Auction Bridge 

reason, he may begin with "Two 
Clubs" if his sole strength lies in this 
suit. Dealer should not leave the 
opposition with a call which will give 
them game or rubber if he can possibly 
avoid it, but he must not be too fool- 
hardy in this direction. 

We will now consider the policy of 
dealer's partner. 

THIRD HAND 

After hearing the bids of the first 
two players, the bid of the third hand 
is generally merely an application of 
his common sense. A bid of One 
Spade from the dealer, passed by 
second in hand, should be a clear 



ABC of Auction Bridge 59 

warning that the strength is probably 
divided between himself and the 
fourth in hand; therefore, without an 
exceptionally strong hand, or a state 
of the score which warrants some rash- 
ness, he should be very cautious about 
making an expensive bid without 
some means of escape. In this situa- 
tion second in hand is apt to have 
more strength than the dealer, and a 
double may be disastrous. 

If the dealer has made ^^One No 
Trump," and has been overcalled by 
a two bid, third hand should not help 
the No Trump without sure stop- 
pers in his adversaries' make unless he 
holds remarkable strength outside. 



6o A B C of Auction Bridge 

It is frequently better, holding a good 
hand in another suit of higher value, 
to overbid his opponent in that suit, 
leaving it to the dealer to decide, after 
receiving this information, whether 
it is advisable to carry on his No 
Trump. 

It is a common error of beginners 
to help the dealer's one-trick bid in a 
suit, holding four trumps to a low 
honor and nothing else. This is dan- 
gerous. The dealer is entitled to ex- 
pect at least one sure trick in the 
dummy, consequently you should 
hold a minimum of two tricks before 
increasing the make, and those tricks 
should be preferably in side cards, as 



A B C of Auction Bridge 6i 

these are essential to fulfilling an eight- 
or nine- trick contract. 

To overcall lightly on a suit is still 
more indefensible. For instance, 
third hand, having five small dia- 
monds to the knave and little else of 
value, calls one of that suit first round. 
Fourth player rises to "One Heart." 
Dealer, having no diamonds himself, 
but three probable tricks in other 
suits, risks "Two Diamonds." It is 
doubled and defeated. The dealer 
was not to blame. He rightly in- 
ferred that his partner had the com- 
mand in the trump suit. 

There is no such objection to an 
overcall of "One No Trump" on the 



62 A B C of Auction Bridge 

part of third hand. Indeed, it is to be 
recommended on very light strength. 
Nevertheless there should be the 
foundation of a No Trumper. The 
advantage lies in its persuasive in- 
fluence upon the opposition. Eight 
tricks in one of the suits is the lowest 
undertaking that has precedence over 
it. Then, if not overcalled, it is no 
more expensive to lose than any 
other declaration, and, moreover, 
offers the best chance of success on 
moderate cards. 

To the beginner I would say, never 
hesitate to overcall your partner's 
declaration. I have seen so many 
opportunities lost by this mistaken 



A B C of Auction Bridge 63 

caution. Because the dealer has gone 
"One No Trump," that is no reason 
why you should not raise it to two in 
another suit if you see a probabiUty of 
making eight tricks. You have at 
once told him the character of your 
hand, and if he cannot see his way, 
with this assistance, to "Two No 
Trumps," then you have relieved him 
of a very doubtful contract. Again, 
one of the adversaries may be lured 
into a risky call which one of you 
may be able to double. This last 
consideration is the most important 
inducement of all. In the same way, 
with divided strength, third hand 
should call "One No Trump" over 



64 A B C of Auction Bridge 

partner's suit declaration. Or, if 
hearts is his suit, he should call it 
over a diamond declaration; but if 
dealer proceeds with his diamond 
contract, third hand should then take 
it as an indication of confidence, and 
should not bid over it again An 
original call of ''Two Clubs" should 
mean an invitation to third hand to 
call ''No Trumps," with the knowl- 
edge that one suit at least is thor- 
oughly protected. 

In bidding against the opposition 
more care will have to be exercised. 
For instance, dealer has gone "One 
No Trump" either on first or second 
round. Second hand has responded 



A B C of Auction Bridge 6$ 

with two tricks in one of the other 
suits, of which third hand holds little 
or nothing. Even with something 
in the other suits, he runs a risk in 
helping his partner with *'Two No 
Trumps." The lead will come from 
the previous declarer, if he is left with 
this contract, and it is certain to be in 
the suit of which he is short. Dealer 
may also hold nothing in it, and the 
contract may be defeated before the 
lead is secured. If, on the other 
hand, third player holds good cards 
in the trump suit called, he has to 
decide whether it is better to double 
it or to support the dealer's call. The 
latter has shown that he possesses fair 



66 A B C of Auction Bridge 

general strength. With third hand^s 
trumps, there should be a reasonable 
prospect of the two hands being too 
much for the two-trick contract in 
the suit declared. 

We may now turn to the policy of 
those who, until the declarations are 
completed, may be termed the oppo- 
sition. 

SECOND HAND 

We have seen that second hand 
should, in some instances, pass the 
original call of "One Spade," because 
it is morally certain to be raised by 
third hand, and the chance will come 
again of calling from his strength if 



A B C of Auction Bridge 67 

dealer does not wish to be left with 
the two-spade contract. His posi- 
tion has then been improved by the 
fact that the second declaration of 
dealer has conveyed some sort of 
information as to the nature of the 
cards he holds. That the dealer will 
elect to get out of an unprofitable 
spade call at any risk is only too 
probable, and second hand must, 
therefore, use his judgment in dis- 
tinguishing between a forced call and 
a genuine undertaking. For example, 
''One No Trump" comes from dealer 
second round; has this been made 
from strength or as a tentative means 
of escape? Or, again, is it a trap 



6S A B C of Auction Bridge 

set for the unwary? Dealer may 
be lying low with fine attacking cards, 
and when second hand blithely calls 
two tricks in suit with fair strength 
in it and little else, may promptly 
double. Second hand has thus un- 
dertaken to make eight tricks with 
perhaps only five trumps as his hope 
of succeeding. 

Second hand should, therefore, be 
guided by the general strength of 
his own cards in raising a "One No 
Trump" contract or in leaving it 
alone. If he himself has good gen- 
eral cards and a strong suit, it is 
better for him to declare two tricks 
in the latter. What he should not 



A B C of Auction Bridge 69 

do is to double the preceding con- 
tract. To do so may be to frighten 
his opponents into another suit in 
which he may not be able to render 
any help in defeating. And then in 
calling to his hand he has told his part- 
ner wherein lies his strength. But if 
second hand is in doubt, he should 
leave matters to his partner. The 
state of the score must, of course, be 
a consideration. If the dealer can 
make the rubber game on a one-trick 
contract, there is a more cogent reason 
for trying to force him up. The extra 
loss entailed in the event of his suc- 
ceeding is not of so much considera- 
tion as the chance of being still able 



70 A B C of Auction Bridge 

to keep the game open. But it must 
be remembered that dealer is quite as 
ready to score heavily in the honor 
column as to win the rubber, and that 
a double of a light two-trick call in a 
suit is only too likely to be the result. 
Another reason for leaving fourth 
hand with the onus of forcing the 
dealer is that in the event of the latter 
retaining the play of the hands, second 
hand as leader has learned which suit 
to lead up to his partner. But with 
genuine strength himself, he should 
not hesitate to show it. There is a 
somewhat debatable point in connec- 
tion with an original one-spade call, 
when second hand holds complete 



A B C of Auction Bridge 71 

command in that suit. He should 
bid "Two Spades" immediately, 
for three reasons: First. It shows 
the fourth hand that he need not 
worry about the spades in case he 
otherwise would make it ''No 
Trump." Second. It shows the 
fourth what suit to lead if third 
hand gets the declaration. Third. It 
puts his opponents on the defensive 
and may force them to a bid which 
may be disastrous. 

I have said little about the play of 
the hands because, once the declara- 
tion is settled, it does not differ mate- 
rially from ordinary Bridge beyond 
the fact that more information has 



72 A B C of Auction Bridge 

been given away before a commence- 
ment is made. There is, nevertheless, 
always the necessity of making the 
defeat of the call the primary ob- 
ject. Thus, when the contract is to 
make three or four odd tricks, the 
policy of the opposition should be to 
secure every available trick at the 
earHest opportunity, and not to finesse 
with a view to winning more tricks 
than are necessary for the purpose. 
. If these can be made, so much the 
better, but no great risks should be 
taken. So in opening, second hand 
should make his high cards early, and 
lead up to any suit in which his 
partner has shown himself to hold 



A B C of Auction Bridge 73 

strength. There is no need to lead 
him a trump if he has doubled a suit 
declaration, as he is probably relying 
largely upon strength in other suits. 

FOURTH HAND 

He is in the most enviable position 
of all, inasmuch as he has at the 
start the best opportunity of study- 
ing the composition of the other 
hands. When a high call has been 
made, it devolves mainly on him to 
put on the pressure. We have seen 
that second hand should use some 
caution in bidding too freely, but his 
partner may display a more sporting 
spirit, short, of course, of courting 



74 A B C of Auction Bridge 

certain disaster. Again, it may often 
be advisable to make a somewhat 
slender call in order to inform second 
hand of the suit he wishes led. Still, 
the danger of being doubled should 
always be kept in view. It is in the 
initial stages that fourth hand may 
take some liberty. 

The advice as to overcalling one's 
partner applies equally to fourth 
hand, and should invariably be done 
without hesitation. The information 
thus conveyed is invaluable, and the 
principle of forcing up the opposition 
is served at the same time. But in all 
cases he should be guided by the 
calls that have been made and use 



A B C of Auction Bridge 75 

this knowledge with discretion, always 
watching his opportunity of leaving 
the opposition in with a risky call. 

SUMMARY OF THE BIDDING 

It can readily be seen that the posi- 
tion of the dealer and second hand is 
analogous, namely, that unless they 
have an aggressive declaration and 
one which with an average break of 
cards or luck they can make game, 
their duty lies in giving their re- 
spective partner the most correct in- 
formation as to their own hand, so 
that from information so given the 
partner may be justified in assuming 
an attacking or defensive attitude. 



76 A B C of Auction Bridge 

SCORING 

The score should always be kept 
on the table in plain view of each 
player. The old system of scoring, 
above and below the line, while still 
used by a great many players and in 
many clubs, is gradually being done 
away with, as it is too lengthy and 
liable to errors in addition, and the 
following method, showing the net 
result of each game, is taking its 
place. 



A B C of Auction Bridge 



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A B C of Auction Bridge 






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A B C of Auction Bridge 79 

THE PENALTY FOR COMMON 
OFFENSES 

New Deal. — If a card is exposed 
during the deal. 

If a player does not play to a trick. 

If a declaration is made out of turn. 

If a double is made out of turn. 

If the cards are misdealt. 

If a player holds 14 cards. 

Revokes. — By declarer, 150 points 
in the honor column. 

By adversary, 3 tricks or 150 points 
in the honor column; and subsequent 
second revoke in the same hand by 
either declarer or adversary, 100 points 
in honor column. 

Dummy cannot revoke. 



8o A B C of Auction Bridge 

Exposed Cards. — If a card is ex- 
posed during a deal, there must be a 
new deal. 

If a card is exposed after the deal 
is completed and before bidding is 
ended, the partner cannot bid or lead 
the suit of card exposed and the card 
may be called. 

If a card is exposed after the bid- 
ding is completed and before the right 
person leads, such card may be called, 
and if third hand exposes the suit, 
cannot be led. 

If declarer exposes a card during 
play there is no penalty. 

If adversary exposes a card during 
play that card may be called. 



A B C of Auction Bridge 8i 

If the declarer leads out of turn 
there is no penalty. 

If an adversary leads out of turn 
the card may be treated as exposed 
or a lead called. 

A player is liable for a revoke if he 
plays with less than 13 cards or plays 
2 cards to a trick. 

If a player makes a declaration 
that is not sufficient he must make 
that declaration sufficient, and his 
partner cannot take him out unless 
the dealer's adversary advances his 
bid or doubles. 

If dummy makes any suggestion 
as to play, the same may be required 
or not allowed by adversaries. 



82 A B C of Auction Bridge 

If declarer touches a card in dummy, 
either adversary may compel him 
to play same, without consultation. 

If an adversary of the declarer call 
the attention of his partner to a trick, 
that partner may be required by the 
declarer to play his highest or lowest 
card of the suit lead to that trick. 



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